Comprehensive MOT Test Centre Information Near Me

Find the nearest MOT Test Centres. Enter your postcode in the search box and we'll find all the MOT Stations near you ordered by distance. In addition to a handy map we will also include booking telephone numbers and, where possible, opening times. If you have a car, van, motor bike, private passenger vehicle or, even, a trike, we'll list all the M.O.S. Test Centers near you.

MOT Test Centre Counties

UK MOT Test Centres in Dorset

DT2 9EP
DT2 9EW
DT2 9EN
DT2 9EL
DT2 9EJ
DT6 3ST
DT6 4PJ
DT6 4PH
DT6 4PL
DT6 4PW
DT6 4PQ
DT6 4PG
DT2 9EQ
DT6 4NZ
DT6 4PF
DT6 4PE
DT2 9EG
DT6 4PD
DT6 4PN
DT6 4PR
DT6 3SS
DT6 4NU
DT6 4PP
DT6 4RS
DT6 4NY
DT6 4NT
DT6 4PA
DT6 3SR
DT6 3SP
DT6 3SU
DT6 3SX
DT6 4NS
DT6 3SY
DT6 4NR
DT6 4PB
DT6 4NF
DT6 3TG
DT6 3SZ
DT6 4NP
DT6 3TF
DT6 3TA
DT6 3TB
DT6 4NN
DT6 3TD
DT6 4NW
DT6 3UJ
DT6 4NB
DT2 9AN
DT2 0DS
DT2 9DW
DT6 3SE
DT2 9AH
DT2 9AL
DT6 3SD
DT6 3TE
DT2 9AJ
DT2 9AW
DT6 4NL
DT6 4TA
DT6 3SB
DT2 9AG
DT2 0DP
DT6 4NA
DT2 9AQ
DT6 4LJ
DT2 9AP
DT2 9AF
DT2 9AR
DT6 4LL
DT2 0EY
DT6 4LN
DT2 9TE
DT6 4LX
DT2 9DH
DT2 9AS
DT2 9AE
DT6 4LY
DT6 4LZ
DT6 4NE
DT6 4LP
DT6 3SA
DT6 4LS
DT6 4LU
DT2 9EX
DT2 9BU
DT2 9DR
DT6 4LT
DT2 9AD
DT2 9DP
DT6 4LW
DT6 4LR
DT6 4RT
DT6 4FB
DT6 4FD
DT2 9AU
DT2 9AT
DT6 3RZ
DT6 3TQ
DT6 3SW
DT6 4NJ
DT6 3RY
DT2 0DW
DT2 9AX
DT6 4ND
DT2 9EF
DT2 9BT
DT6 3SL
DT6 3RX
DT2 9AB
DT6 4NG
DT6 3SJ
DT6 3SN
DT6 3SH
DT2 0EX
DT2 9AA
DT6 4LQ
DT2 9AY
DT6 4AW
DT6 4QP
DT2 9BE
DT2 9BW
DT6 4QW
DT2 9XB
DT2 9BP
DT6 4LG
DT6 3RU
DT6 4LH
DT6 3SQ
DT6 4LA
DT6 4LF
DT2 9BN
DT2 9BY
DT6 4LD
DT2 9BL
DT2 9BX
DT6 3TN
DT6 3SG
DT6 3TJ
DT6 4LE
DT2 9BD
DT2 9BB
DT2 0DU
DT6 3HY
DT2 9BG
DT6 4NH
DT6 4LB
DT6 3HX
DT6 3HZ
DT6 3HU
DT2 9BH
DT6 4NQ
DT2 9TF
DT6 3UR
DT6 3UY
DT2 9BQ
DT6 3HT
DT6 3HS
DT2 9DN
DT6 3HD
DT6 4AR
DT6 4AE
DT6 3SF
DT2 9BJ
DT6 4SR
DT6 3JF
DT6 4AJ
DT6 3EU
DT2 9EH
DT6 4RX
DT2 9BA
DT6 4AP
DT2 9JB
DT6 3JB
DT6 3JA
DT6 4SH
DT6 3XN
DT6 3EP
DT6 4SG
DT2 9DB
DT6 3ER
DT6 4AB
DT6 4SJ
DT6 3HJ
DT6 3EW
DT2 9HU
DT6 3JD
DT6 4SF
DT2 0EU
DT6 3JG
DT6 4AN
DT6 4AH
DT6 3ET
DT6 3HL
DT6 3HG
DT6 4SE
DT6 3FW
DT6 3EH
DT6 3XZ
DT6 3XP

When to get an MOT

The MOT test is designed to check that your vehicle meets road safety and environmental standards defined by the Department for Transport.

The rules that determine when you need to MOT your vehicle depend on the type of vehicle you have and what you use it for. These rules are grouped into Classes which currently include 1, 2, 3, 4, 4a, 5, 5a and 7. Broardly speaking you need to MOT your vehicle on;

  • the third anniversary of its registration
  • the anniversary of its last MOT, if it's over 3 years old
The exception to this is vehicles that are categorised as Class 4, 5 and 5a which need to be MOT tested every 12 months.

Driving a vehicle without an MOT can attract a fine of up to £1,000

Expired MOT certificate

It is not acceptable to drive a vehicle if its MOT has certificate expired. Doing so can result in a prosecution. Exceptions to this rule are;

  • to or from somewhere to be repaired,
  • to a pre-arranged MOT test1.

1A pre-arranged MOT test is one that has been arranged in advance. If you are stopped on the way to a drop in MOT test centre without an appointment you may not qualify for an exemption.

MOT renewal

An MOT lasts for a calendar year. The MOT expiration date is printed on the MOT pass certificate.

It is important to ensure your vehicle's MOT test certificate is renewed before the MOT test due date. This is can be done as early as a month minus 1 day before the expiration of the current certificate or anniversary of the registration of the vehicle. It is acceptable to get a new MOT test certificate at any time, however, the start date of the certificate will change if the renewal date is more than a month minus a day before the expiration of the current certificate.

MOT Test Fees and Class Descriptions

The Department for Transport has specified maximum fees that MOT test centres can charge. These are broken down by the Class of the vehicle as this roughly equates to the amount of effort required by the MOT Test Centre to carry out the test. The following table explains the Classes and associated costs.

ClassVehicle TypeAge before
MOT (years)
Maximum
Fee
1Motorcycle (engine size up to 200cc)3£ 29.65
1Motorcycle with sidecar (engine size up to 200cc)3£ 37.80
2Motorcycle (engine size over 200cc)3£ 29.65
2Motorcycle with sidecar (engine size over 200cc)3£ 37.80
33-wheeled vehicles (up to 450kg unladen weight)3£ 37.80
43-wheeled vehicles (over 450kg unladen weight)3£ 54.85
4Cars (up to 8 passenger seats)3£ 54.85
4Motor caravans3£ 54.85
4Quads (max unladen weight 400kg - for goods vehicles 550kg and max net power of 15kw)3£ 54.85
4Dual purpose vehicles3£ 54.85
4Private hire and public service vehicles (up to 8 seats)3£ 54.85
4Ambulances and taxis1£ 54.85
4Private passenger vehicles and ambulances (9 to 12 passenger seats)1£ 57.30
4Goods vehicles (up to 3,000kg design gross weight)3£ 54.85
4aClass 4 vehicles (9 to 12 passenger seats) with a seat belt installation check£ 64.00
5Private passenger vehicles and ambulances (13 to 16 passenger seats)1£ 59.55
5Private passenger vehicles and ambulances (more than 16 passenger seats)1£ 80.65
5Playbuses1£ 80.65
5aClass 5 vehicles (13 to 16 passenger seats) with a seatbelt installation check£ 80.50
5aClass 5 vehicles (more than 16 passenger seats) with a seatbelt installation check£ 124.50
7Goods vehicles (over 3,000kg up to 3,500kg design gross weight)3£ 58.60

Test Failures and Retests

If your vehicle has failed its MOT Test you may qualify for a free or reduced retest.

If the MOT Test Centre carries out the repair then ordinarily they would retest the vehicle at a reduced cost or no cost at all, depending on the nature of the work and the time between the two MOT tests.

If you decide to take your vehicle away for repair you will need to ensure that your vehicle's current certificate is still valid. If your certificate is no longer valid then you will only be able to take your vehicle to a repair agent to get the defects corrected and to an MOT Test Centre with a pre-arranged MOT test appointment. You will not be able to take your vehicle to any other location.

If you have taken your vehicle away for repair and manage to return it to the same test centre before the end of the next working day for a retest, the MOT Test Centre will not charge for the partial retest, assuming the repair is one or more of the following items;

  • access panels
  • battery
  • bonnet
  • bootlid
  • brake pedal antislip
  • break glass hammer (class 5 vehicles only)
  • doors (including hinges, catches and pillars)
  • door open warning device (class 5 vehicles only)
  • dropsides
  • electrical wiring
  • emergency exits and signs (class 5 vehicles only)
  • entrance door remote control (class 5 vehicles only)
  • entrance/exit steps (class 5 vehicles only)
  • fuel filler cap
  • headlamp cleaning or levelling devices (that doesn’t need a headlamp aim check)
  • horn
  • lamps (excluding headlamp aim)
  • loading door
  • main beam 'tell-tale'
  • mirrors
  • rear reflectors
  • registration plates
  • seatbelts (but not anchorages), seatbelt load limiter and seatbelt pre-tensioner
  • seats
  • sharp edges or projections
  • stairs (class 5 vehicles only)
  • steering wheel
  • tailboard
  • tailgate
  • trailer electrical sockets
  • towbars (excluding body around anchorage points)
  • tyre pressure monitoring system
  • vehicle identification number (VIN)
  • windscreen glass, wipers and washers
  • wheels and tyres (excluding motorcycles and motorcycles with sidecar)
If the repair is for another fault or you do not get your vehicle back within the time period then you are eligible for a charge.

If you return your vehicle, after a repair, within 10 working days of the original test then the MOT Test Centre can complete a partial test which may be free or at a reduce charge. If it is not within this period then the MOT Text Centre will need to carry out a full test for which a full charge can be made.

Booking an MOT

MOT Test Centres offer a variety of methods for booking your vehicle in for a test. The primary means of booking is by phone. Our website offers a handy click to call facility if you are using a compatible device saving the need to save or write the number down. It is also worth noting that many sites now have online booking capabilities making it quick and easy for you to book your car in for a test.

MOT Test Centre maximum fees are controlled. Familiarise yourself with the Class of your vehicle and ensure that the MOT Test Centre does not charge you more than the maximum fee specified.

How does the MOT Test work?

An MOT test is an annual check of qualifying vehicles by an approved agent of items the Department of Transport has deemed essential for the safe operation of the vehicle on the public highway. Checks vary by vehicle category but all include essential items like headlights, seatbelt and tyres.

The MOT Test is designed to ensure the vehicle meets road safety and emission standards as defined by the Department for Transport. The test ensures your vehicle is in appropriate condition for use on the road. The MOT Test focuses on elements of the vehicle that ensure the safety of the driver, passengers and other road users. The Test does not concern itself with the condition of the vehicle's engine or gearbox, for example, but does focus on items such as seat belts, breaks and lights. For a full guide please read the MOT Inspection Manual.

Whilst the MOT Test is being performed you are allowed to view the Test from the MOT Public viewing area. You are not, however, allowed to interact with the Tester during the course of their duties.

MOT Test Completion

When the MOT Tester has completed the inspection you will be issued with a certificate. This can be an MOT Certificate, if the vehicle has passed, or a refusal of an MOT Test Certificate. In either case the outcome, along with the vehicles odometer reading will be recorded in the MOT test database, which is a national register.

If the vehicle has passed the MOT Test the MOT Certificate will be issued with, amoungst other things, the epiration date of the Certificate. You will need to repeat this process again before this date.

If the vehicle has NOT passed the MOT Test the refusal of an MOT Test Certificate will be issued which contains the reasons why the vehicle failed the test. If you decide to take the vehicle away for repair then please ensure you have familiarised yourself with the rules related to retesting your vehicle, especially if your MOT Test Certificate has expired.

If you feel you vehicle has been incorrectly failed then you may lodge an appeal with the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) by calling them on 0300 123 9000 week days between 7:30am to 6pm. You should also contact them if you think your MOT Test Certificate is not geniune or if you think your vehicle has passed when it shouldn't have.

Driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition can attract a fine of up to £2,000, a driving ban and 3 penalty points
Information on this site is correct at time of publication. We assume no responsibility for any incorrect data, ommissions or errors.
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